Volleyball: Mueller Is Springdale's "Core"

 Staff Photo J.T. Wampler Maddie Mueller of Springdale High has recorded 181 assists through Lady Bulldogs’ 11 games this season.
Staff Photo J.T. Wampler Maddie Mueller of Springdale High has recorded 181 assists through Lady Bulldogs’ 11 games this season.

SPRINGDALE -- No. 14 has always been Maddie Mueller's number.

It didn't matter whether she played volleyball, basketball or softball in elementary school, middle school or junior high. She always wore 14.

At A Glance

Maddie Mueller

School: Springdale High

Class: Junior

Position: Setter

Notable: Named a team captain in August. … Has 181 assists through 11 matches this year . … Started as a sophomore and finished with a team-high 369 assists, 23 digs and four aces last year. … Part of a strong junior class that includes fellow former George Junior High standouts Desiree Mack and Ryann Goodsell.

Up until last year, at least. Someone else on the Springdale High volleyball team claimed the number, so Mueller wound up having to wear No. 4 for her sophomore season.

But it all worked out. She has her number back for her junior year, along with a team captain title and her George Junior High coach, Kylie Moad, who was hired to lead the Lady Bulldogs in January.

Moad also just so happened to wear 14 in her playing days. And she expects her current No. 14 to step up as a leader on the court as Springdale's setter and one of the most experienced players on the team.

"Maddie and I are close," Moad said. "Maddie's a great kid. I love her. She's a leader. We need her and we rely on her. She's a workhorse."

Mueller racked up a team-high 369 assists last year as she and then-senior Marlen Reynoso operated within a 6-2 system. But Mueller became Springdale's sole setter as the Lady Bulldogs began running a 5-1 when Moad was hired.

"I've always told Maddie she's got the keys to the Cadillac," Moad said.

Mueller has a lot of added responsibility this year.

The 5-1 means she never comes out of the match, playing all the way around the court. So she's had to improve her defense on the back line while getting used to being on the court for every point in a high school game setting.

"It's a lot better," Mueller said of her conditioning this year. "Because you're running all over the court."

Mueller has recorded 181 assists through Springdale's 11 games this season. Moad used to instruct her who to get the ball to at times when they were both at George, but not anymore.

"Maddie's very smart," Moad said. "She knows who's on, who's off. Maddie can read a defense and know who to go to. She does a really good job mixing it up. She's smart with the ball. I completely trust her."

And Mueller has several options to choose from when she gets the ball.

Junior Ryann Goodsell is a solid hitter, while senior Bethany Maddox is rarely off. Junior Desiree Mack is Springdale's top hitter and has good chemistry with Mueller, the result of being teammates at George and for several years as part of the Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club.

"I usually try to mix it, so I don't always go to Desiree," Mueller said. "But when she's on or when we're down, I usually go to her because she gets us back up."

Springdale has showed its potential in several solid wins and a few tight losses, but is still looking for its first 7A-West win. The Lady Bulldogs are still young, relying heavily on a freshman, sophomore and the junior trio of Mueller, Mack and Goodsell, plus the conference became even tougher this year with the additions of Fort Smith Northside and Fort Smith Southside, the defending state champion.

"I think we look a lot better, we just don't come as a team sometimes when we play," Mueller said.

Moad is counting on No. 14 to be a part of the solution as the Lady Bulldogs continue growing together.

"I believe in her," Moad said. "She's our core."

Sports on 09/18/2014

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